This is not an ordinary Instant Pot cheesecake! Inspired by the coconut and almond flavours of the Raffaello sweets, this pressure cooked cheesecake is as decadent and delicious as it looks. Must-try recipe!
3-3.5oz.butter biscuitsor graham crackers (100-110 g)
⅔cupalmond meal80 g
½cupdesiccated coconutunsweetened
3oz.unsalted buttermelted until just warm (90-100 g)
For the middle layer of the filling
6oz.white chocolatebar or buttons (180-200 g)
½cancoconut milkuse thickened cream part only, discard the separated liquid or use in a smoothie
3eggs
3tablespoonswhite sugar
14oz.light cream cheese400 g
1tablespoonlime or lemon juice
A pinch of salt
3tablespoonstapioca flour or starch or arrowroot starchcorn or rice starch would also work
For the top layer
2oz.white chocolate50 g
8-9oz.mascarponesee notes for alternatives below (250 g)
Instructions
Crust:
Grind the crackers in a food processor or with a rolling pin in a plastic bag. Add the almond meal, coconut and melted butter and process together until the mixture comes together. You can use a fork or a spoon to mix them through.
Cut out a round-shaped piece of parchment paper and place it on the bottom of a 6” springform cake tin. Transfer the crust mixture into the tin and press it down using your fingers until it’s tightly packed down. We want an even crust bottom with the edges going up to the sides slightly. Make sure there are no visible gaps or holes. Place the tin in the freezer for 30 minutes.
Middle layer:
Place the white chocolate into a heatproof bowl and place the bowl over a pot of boiling water. The bowl will heat up from the steam and the chocolate will slowly melt. Once the white chocolate is soft and runny, remove the bowl from the heat and stir in the coconut cream (thickened part of the coconut milk). You can also use a microwave to melt the chocolate.
In another mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar and cream cheese. Add the lime or lemon juice, a small pinch of salt and the tapioca starch or arrowroot starch and stir through until well combined. Pour the white chocolate and coconut mixture into the cream cheese and whisk together well.
Remove the prepared cake tin with the crust from the freezer and warp the bottom of it with foil (to catch any liquid that might escape). Pour the filling mixture into the tin.
Fold a large piece of foil (about 18”) into thirds to make a long strip, this will be our sling for removing the cake tin once it is cooked. It should be long enough to wrap under the tin cake and to have two sides overlap over the top as handles.
Place a trivet inside the inner pot of the Instant Pot and add a cup of water. Lower the foil sling into the pot. Carefully, place the cake tin together with the foil handles wrapped underneath into the pot, on top of trivet (so it's not touching the water). Cover the top of the tin with some foil as well. Close and lock the lid. Set to Manual, High pressure for 35 minutes. After 3 beeps the Instant Pot will start to build up the pressure and the cooking will begin. Once the timer goes off, allow the pressure to release naturally (this will take about 10-15 minutes).
Open the lid and remove the cheesecake from the Instant pot using the foil sling and place on a wire rack or a board to cool for 30 minutes to an hour. Don’t worry if the texture of the cheesecake looks a little wobbly, wet or pannacotta-like. Once it sets in the fridge, it will feel and look like a regular cheesecake. If there is a little puddle of water in the middle of the cheesecake (from condensation), use a spoon to scoop it out.
While the cheesecake is cooling, prepare the top layer of the filling. Once again, melt the remaining white chocolate (on the stove over hot water or in a microwave) and once soft and runny, remove from heat and mix in the mascarpone cream until smooth. Set aside.
Once the cheesecake is slightly cooled, spoon the mascarpone mixture over the top and spread it with a knife or a spatula. Cover the cake tin with foil and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight, ideally.
Once set, release the spring of the cake tin and remove the sides. We left the cheesecake on the bottom layer of the cake tin and placed it on a platter. To decorate the cake, sprinkle the top with more shredded coconut, shaved almonds (you can toast those in a small pan for a minute or two to give them a nice colour) and decorate with whole Raffaellos around the edges.
Store the cheesecake for 5-6 days in the fridge, covered loosely with foil or packed into a cake container. Enjoy!
Notes
Mascarpone is a mild, creamy, double-cream cream cheese with a fat content of 80%. It is made from cream, which is thickened with citric, tartaric, or acetic acid. Whipped double cream or thickened cream can also be used instead, or a mixture of cream cheese and thickened cream.